Jonathan Kuminga’s decision to accept a significantly smaller contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves was driven by basketball opportunity and maintaining control over his future, according to his agent Aaron Turner.
Kuminga signed a two-year deal worth up to $12.4 million with Minnesota after reportedly having a three-year, $75 million extension available from Golden State. Turner explained that maximizing Kuminga’s immediate salary was not their main objective.
“With the three-year, $75 million deal it was to me, he had to get to a spot to make long-term money, or past this contract, where the basketball was set,” Turner said.
“With the basketball comes the money, right? If you understand this business, it’s ‘If it’s a good basketball fit, the money follows.’ The money coming before the basketball is not really how you’re going to continue to make more and more money.”
Turner also pointed to Kuminga’s lack of control when he was traded to Atlanta last season. A longer contract could have left him in a similar position, while his Timberwolves agreement provides a player option after the 2026-27 season.
That could allow Kuminga to return to free agency in 2027, when several teams are expected to have significant spending power.
“There’s a lot of teams with money, and if you’ve paid attention to JK’s recruiting saga over the last few years, those teams that have been trying to sign and trade for him, Sacramento, Chicago, these teams have a lot of money next year,” Turner said.
“Who knows, but the game board is set very, very well for JK for 2027.”
The strategy is essentially a bet on Kuminga establishing himself in Minnesota and putting himself in position to pursue a much larger contract in 2027.
